After finishing her work, Lily turned and looked at Rhea nonchalantly. Rhea stood behind her, her disdain and disapproval palpable. Lily remained unfazed, smiling slightly as she continued, "Don't you know that every failure, while seemingly identical, is actually unique? The steps might appear the same, but even a subtle difference significantly alters the results." She paused, then added, "It's no wonder you keep failing despite numerous experiments."

This stung Rhea deeply. Accustomed to praise for her intellect and work ethic, her involvement in this project had brought constant frustration. Her unfamiliarity with raw materials exacerbated the problem. Having never appreciated perfumes or fragrances, she lacked the necessary knowledge and experience. This project forced her to learn, but perhaps her initial disdain for the field, coupled with her inexperience, hindered her progress. The repeated failures and mounting impatience were further compounded by the organization's waning trust. Lily's arrival pushed Rhea further into the background, culminating in the crucial R10 project being assigned to Lily. Reduced to an assistant, Rhea's dissatisfaction grew.

Convinced she was superior, Rhea desperately sought to prove Lily's inadequacy and expose what she perceived as a mistake by the organization. But Lily's unsparing criticism only fueled Rhea's humiliation. The urge to retaliate physically—to strike Lily or destroy her work—was strong, but Rhea could only clench her fists in impotent rage.

Lily, aware of Rhea's fury, remained indifferent. Rhea, clenching and unclenching her fists, met Lily's gaze. A flicker of something akin to amusement crossed her face before she burst into laughter.

"Yes," she chuckled, "I don't know as much about these spices, perfumes, and essential oils as you do. That's why the organization needs you, even while you're pregnant. I do wonder if these poisonous herbs or chemicals will harm your baby. Do you think it'll be born—"

Before Rhea could finish, Lily slapped her across the face. Rhea was stunned. This was the second time. The swift, brutal blow left her reeling. She instinctively stepped back, apprehension clouding her eyes. The memory of Lily's kickboxing skills flooded back. Even pregnancy hadn't diminished Lily's agility.

"Why you!" Rhea glared, but the words died in her throat, silenced by Lily's actions.